Life Membership of the Australian Lychee Growers Association

Ian and Sandi Groves have been involved with the lychee industry for over 40 years and are stalwarts of the industry.
They never say no to anyone. Ian has helped many growers over time along with Sandi who gets involved in industry matters and is also actively involved in HARPS.
They are terrific industry people and ALGA acknowledged them with a Life Membership of the Australian Lychee Growers Association.

The inscription on the certificate reads:
The Australian Lychee Growers Association Life Membership Certificate is in recognition of the extraordinary support that Ian & Sandi have given the lychee industry and ALGA over a 40 year period. Their generosity of spirit to fellow growers new to our industry or those established has never wavered. Ian & Sandi are real industry people, with Ian serving time as a valuable committee member of the ALGA Executive and the Australian Lychee Advisory Committee. Ian served 6 years as ALGA President from 2006 to 2012.

Honorary Membership of the Australian Lychee Growers Association

Over the years whilst Yan Diczbalis (L) worked with the Dept of Ag & Fisheries, a tremendous association has developed between Yan and the lychee industry.
His wise council is frequently called upon and is always very much appreciated, so much so that Yan has become an essential part of the lychee industry. For these and many other reasons ALGA presented Yan with an Honorary Membership of the Australian Lychee Growers Association.

The inscription on the certificate reads:
The Australian Lychee Growers Association Honorary Membership Certificate is in recognition of the outstanding support that Yan has given the lychee industry and ALGA for over 25 years. During this time Yan has shared his expert knowledge with all growers and will even go above and beyond his field to obtain further information & research which may be of assistance to ALGA and growers. He is very generous with his time for the lychee industry and has formed many close friendships with growers and colleagues during his association with the industry. Yan has served as a member of the Australian Lychee Advisory Committee since 2016.

The Australian Lychee Industry Certificate of Recognition was presented to members of the Wah Day Family to acknowledge the lasting contribution made by the Wah Day forebearers to the Australian Lychee Industry.

Recognizing their Chinese heritage and as pioneers of the industry in Australia, their determination, commitment and hard work has been of enormous value to the ongoing development of today’s lychee Industry.

ALGA President, Derek Foley announced the ALGA Life Membership awards by presenting a Life Membership Certificate to Tibby and Helen Dixon of Sarina Beach.

Introduction of the industry levy
As ALGA President for six years, Tibby along with other ALGA committee members, diligently set about convincing all lychee growers that a compulsory levy was essential to move the industry forward.
This was an onerous task, requiring an extraordinary amount of travel up and down the east coast—and it was not always easy to convince growers that they should be paying a levy.
With enough foresight and realization to achieve bigger and better things, growers agreed to the industry’s compulsory levy.

Sourcing new varieties
Tibby has also been prominent in trying to improve the industry and orchard productivity.
He has travelled to China many times to source lychee varieties that would not only grow well in Australia, but could realise higher returns to growers.

Stronger, more productive industry
Thanks to Tibby’s foresight, passion and determination the lychee industry has been able to grow and become ever more productive.
ALGA would like to thank Tibby and Helen, and wish them many more years of growing lychee and many more trips to China. Executive of the Australian Lychee Growers Association